Method of manufacturing suitcases



Nov. 18,1941. H. MEDOFF T 2,263,467

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SUITCASES Filed June 10, 1940 y: INVENTOR. i czrr ado/7. a Fig. 6 H y [7 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,263,467 METHOD or MANUFACTURING SUITCASES Harry Medofi, Lambertville, J. I 7 Application June 10, 1940, SerialNo.:339,665

1 Claim. (Cl. 19054) My invention relates to valises, suitcases, bags and the like and relates primarily to a method of manufacturing suitcases.

Heretofore, suitcases and valises of the type for holding wearing apparel and related articles have been made so that the welt and marginal edge of the top, side, and bottom as one unit, and the ends or gussets as another unit,-have been sewed together in one operation. But it was necessary to turn the abovetwo units inside out in order to sew or join them together. After the joining operation, it was further necessary that the units again be turned in order to restore them to their original right side out positions. This second turning operation resulted in the cracking and breaking up of the leather or the material used in the two units. It further had the effect of causing the welt edges to become ragged, thereby giving the bag a shabby appearance. The welt, as is commonly known, serves as a buffer, resists permanent distorting strains, and keeps the suitcase in shape.

It is an object of my invention to expedite operations of manufacturing suitcases of leather or other semi-rigid material and also to provide a very neat-appearing finished suitcase, such as those made on forms in which the base of the suitcase is a wooden form.

By my invention, I first sew the welt to the main or side piece of the bag, and then I bend the welt and marginal edge of the side to form a flange Or projecting rim; and after the marginal edge has been bent, I then sew the end or gusset to the flange. The finished bag presents a very attractive finished appearance, and my invention also results in a saving of time and effort by the operators as it eliminates the two turning operations mentioned previously.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of manufacturing suitcases in quantity which are efficiently produced and which have edges that are not marred or twisted out of alignment.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of manufacturing suitcases where the number of suitcases damaged by tearing is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the following details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase or valise manufactured according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view illustrating the position of the welt upon the marginal edge of the main body or side portion of the suitcase during the course of manufacture.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the welt and marginal edge of the main body or side portion of the suitcase showing the notches to enable bending of the edge without expanding the thickness of the flange.

Fig. 4 is an end-view of the elements shown in Fig. 2 with the margin downturned to form a flange.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the elements shown in Fig. 3 wherein the rounded bend has been made.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the main body portion and the welt with the end or gusset fastened to the flange by a row of stitches.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I show a perspective view of a suitcase, generally designated as A, embodying my invention. Each main body portion or side ID of the bag is divided at the line I2, and the bag has a top portion I4 which is contiguous to the main piece [0, and the bottom portion also is contiguous to the main piece It). Each end or gusset I6 of the bag is a separate and distinct piece from the main side piece [0, but the ends as well as the side are of the same type of material. The main sides I0 and ends [6 may be of leather or fabricoid material simulating leather and are laid out in a flat position for the first operation.

' Both the main side portion and gussets, of course,

' tcrting strains, which serve as a buffer and which automatically bring the bag back to shape.

The reinforcing means or welt, or welt piece, l8 has a bead formed by bending the intermediate portion of the welt upon itself, the ends of the welt projecting and affording overlapping strips or tabs which may be sewed as at 26 or pasted to the main body ID of the case.

The welt 18 which has an insert 20 of cord. wire, leather, or similar material is first laid so that its edges 22 are parallel to the edge 24 of the main side Ill with the strips of the welt overlapping the marginal ends of the main side, and

then a row of stitching 26 is sewed through the welt as well as the margin of the side piece l0.

Along the portion of each margin of the side piece I0 where the edge is to be turned, a series of perforations 28, Figs. 2 and 5, are cut through the marginal edges of both the welt and the side [0. The number and size of these perforations may vary, and they enable the material to be bent or rounded, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Then the marginal edge and welt are turned along the line BB to form a flange or projecting rim; the flange is formed on a machine which turns the entire side, top, and bottom l5 simultane ously and in a straight line at an angle of approximately 90 to the main piece ID.

The machine for bending the margin isnot illustrated, but the entire marginal edge of the side portion of the suitcase is turned before the side I6 'isattached to both the welt'and the mar- Y ginal edge of the side portion lfl'by means of a second row of'stitchingtwhich is designated as 30. Although the second row of stitching 30 is illustrated in.Fig. 6 as being. spaced from: the

row of stitching 25; the second IOW OfIStitChiDg,

may be very close to the row of stitching 26, or the row of stitching "30.n1ay ioverlap'the row of stitching 26"; edges straight as those illustrated in Fig. 1 and without marring the casing The" bag'is' now finished with the It should be apparent that in the prior art after the welt, the body portion, and the gussets have been sewed together, the operator had to wet the material at the junction of the marginal edges of the side and two ends, and then bend the side of the bag inside out. The necessity for stretching the bag is so great that tears sometimes occur, but usually the welt is pushed out-of-line, and usually the portion of the end andthe side, top, and bottom of the bag adjacent the welt are also bent out of shape because of the necessity of the operator to stretch the bag. These difficulties are overcome with the added advantage that the quantity of production' is materially increased, and a better casing rigidmaterial comprising cutting a side portion of the valise to the proper configuration, sewing a welt'along each of parallel marginal edges while keeping the entire piece of material fiat, bending each edge of the'side along astraight line adjacent the welt so that the welt and marginal edge form a flange, cuttinga plurality of notches along the marginal edge'of saidiwelt and edge flange adjacent the points where there is the junction of the top and side and bottom and side, cutting an endportionto the proper configuration, and sewing said end. to corresponding portions ofsaid Welt and edge fiangeby a line .of stitching.

HARRY. MEDOFF. 

